The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-10-01
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

In 1857 the famous ordinance for
the government OF the northwest ter
ritory was passed by the continental
congress, preceding only by a few
months the present constitution. 1t
forms a convenient land mark to note
the development Of the northwest
The colonization of Ohio was just be-
ginning. The ordinance provided that
as soon as there were 5000 inhabit-
ants in that whole territory, embrac-
ing Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan
and Wisconsin, the people should be
entitled to a legislature of their Own.
In 1880 these five states had popula-
ton of II, zoe, ,66s, which has since been
increased to about fourteen millions.
1t is curious to note that the areas
comprised in these five states lying
east of the Mississippi river, which
constituted the northwest one hun
dred years ago, are hardly considered
now as belonging at all to the north
west of to-day. They constitute the
west to those lying along the sea-
board, but the northwest proper OF to-
day only begins after crossing the
Mississippi river. The country be-
tween the Mississippi river and the
main range Of the Rocky mountains
was regarded as part of the Louisiana
purchase acquired in 1915, including
the present states of Louisiana, Ar
kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas,
Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota, with
the three territories of Dakota, Mon
tana and Wyoming.
II to the original five western states
east Of the great river be added the
population OF Iowa, Kansas, Colorado,
Nebraska, Minnesota and those terri
tories east Of the Rocky mountains,
we have population OF about twen-
ty-one millions, or about one-third
OF the entire population of the
whole country in a region that did
not have 5000 inhabitants hundred
years ago. Where else on the face
OF the earth has such a change been
wrought during that hundred years
or any other century since the world
begun? There was not at that time
in this whole region property of the
value Of half million dollars where
now there are billions. This vast
region that now produces the food
for the eastern states and much OF
the south and a large part OF Eu-
rope, then produced nothing and was
hardly considered capable Of produc-
ing anything. Another curious thing
will be noticed In reading the ordi-
nance Of 1857. The governor must
own thousand acres of land to be
eligible. Judges and members of the
council must own five hundred acres,
and even voters must own fifty acres.
This was the act passed 10y the gener-
alton that won the independence of
the United States and in. the same
year and by the same men that
framed our present constitution.
There was not much fear of landed
monopolies in those days. They were
rather encouraged than discouraged.
The idea of manhood suffrage had not
then found a foothold in the most ad-
vanced political theories.
That ordinance too provides that
whenever any portion of that no rth-
west territory should contain 10000
inhabitants they might organize a
state government and join the con-
federation, or even a smaller number
might by consent of congress become
a state. Now we have a congress that
refuses admission to Dakota with a
population of 100000.